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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 18, 1906)
THE SUNDAY. OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, NOVEMBER, 18, 1906. 0 "How well I know what I mean to do When the long, dark winter evenings come." . I ROBERT BROWNING: "By the Fireside." I II ywgaOTy''y III I llll & iJ'' W 'itfr-xr? " A III 111 I I " ' llll is? M r, c& I L $ - 9 v i 1 S Win Henry Norfhcote, by .lohn Collts Snaith; Herbert B. Turner & Co.. Boston. Occasionally there comes across the horizon of literature a nov'el that for somber Imagination, human nature and sure grip recalls some of the best work of h Dickens or a Thackeray. And surely mightier pens than theirs will arise some ' iay. One of the new stars may he Mr. Snaith. who in his novel "Henry North cote" has given a presentation of criminal procedure, the germ idea in the case toe ing the defense of a murderess by a law yer who secures her acquittal. No more fascinating emotional study lias been offered for years. Its imagery is so. brilliant and eloquence so strong . 4tbout a hero who is a god one minute'and a fool the next, that one's imagination is under a positive thrall. Once in the thread of the story it is impossible to leave it until the end. Mr. Snaith has achieved a great lasting success in giving to the world a novel that makes dozens tif other novels look like poor, pale ghosts. The events described occur in Kngland, the opening chapter picturing Henry Northcote, lawyer, seated in his dingy garret in Shepherd's Jnn, Fleet street. This is the outlook: A heavy and pervasive thaw pressed Its mantle upon tne Rasltt air. In the thrall of a hitter December twilight. A driving sleet numbed the skin and stung the eyes of all "who had to face It. Fools of slush, composed 1n equal parts of Ice, water and mud. ' Im peded the pavements. They invaded the stoutest boots, submerged those less reso lute, and Imposed not a little Inconvenience "upon that section of the population which. urtaddk'tel to toe, wearing of boots, had dispensed with them altogether. With no lire in his grate or stove, no carpet on the floor and with a leaky roof which allowed ice water to drip on the ruin below, Northoote sits in his shabby clothing, and while waiting for a client is actually starving for something tox eat. At that very moment the stars are work ing for him. A famous barrister named Michael Tobin, who was to have defend, ed Kmma Murray, alias Warden, alias Harrison, for the murder of Henry Bar row, had the mis-fortune to be injured by colliding with a motor-car, and he trans fers his brief to the then unknown advo cate Northcote. The latter was recog nized as a Socialistic orator of no mean ability in Hyde Park circles, where the' unemployed adored him as a young De mosthenes. In rapid - succession, Northcote inter views the condemned woman a member of the demi-monde who is accused of having administered poison to the man who had betrayed her. Northoote calls no witnesses for the defense, but in a wondertul address of tm-ee hours' length he wins both Judge and Jury they were . as clay in the mold of his intellect. Many novelists would have referred to the ad dress as "eloquent." and wouldn't have printed a word of it. but Mr. Snaith has the courage of his convictions and nearly Klves the address word for word. It is burning, sensational, powerful. North cote. with poetic license and vivid imag ination, peoples the Jury box with great people of ..history among them Joan of Arc and Alary Magdalene instead of the usual 12 good men and true Here is his description of the foreman of this august Jury: It was with an indescribable 'curiosity that I observed a slight, strangely garbed figure emerge - from 'their' niUlsl. And when he. came to assume his place at the head of his Immortal companions, which you, sir, are occupying now, I was devoured by an over powering eagerness to look upon his face. And, when at last he lifted his head and his pale and luminous features shone out of the gloom and overspread this assembly, a kind of hair stifled soli of surprise, a sort of phudder 'of recognition, passed over the crowded court. The face was that of the man called .lesus of Nazareth. That august Jury seemed to sit and listen to all that passed "What is your verdict, gentlemen?1 asked the clerk, of arraigns. "I understand." said the foreman of the jury, "according to your law the penalty Is death." "Yes, sir," 'said the clerk. "The Jury returns a verdict of Not guilty,' replied the foreman. Instantly, stooping to write with his finger on the rail In front of him, as tnough he had heard him not. Of course, a sensation ensued when Kmma Hurray was declared innocent by a verdict of the jury, who had acted' as if they were under a spell. The Judge was so affected that he died. And what of Northcote? Did he pursue his higher ideals after enacting the part of the Savior in telling the woman who had sinned to go forth and sin no more? Alas! for the one mistake in Mr. Snalth's otherwise rational novel. North cote acts like a man suddenly bereft of his senses, and he is guilty of sin with the very woman whose life he had saved he acts the part of Samson to her Delilah. Then the two have a wila quarrel and fist tight, at the end of which Northcote strangles his mistress and sets the house on fire to conceal the evidences of his enme. He is not punished, and the book closes with the assumption that North cote will soon be a Judge. In spite, however, of this one blemish, . "Henry Northcote" is truly a remarkable novel. It comes out of the common rut of things. Contemporary Europe, Asia and Africa, by Charles Mclrfan Andrews, Ph. D., being volume xx of "A History of All Nations, l.ea Brothers & Co., Philadelphia. Commencing with the period following the restoration of peace in ..ic early '70s between France and Germany down to the close of the Russo-Japanese war. this volume of one of the most valuable and antcrtainlng histories ever known any where brings a record of the world's do ings, down to date. The highly complex subject has been handled with extraor dinary lucidity and succinctness, and the historical pictures given have a fairness and beauty of literary style that is most commendable. The Kuropean Eastern question, mean ing, the limitations and government of the Turkish Empire in its tight with Russia and other neighbors, and the British-Boer war are the two epochs that receive prin cipal treatment. .Here the crisp, con densed style will be highly valued. The Russo-Japanese struggle is given in a nutshell without the introduction of a superfluous phrase. ' 'x .ie great intellectual, economical and political advance of the world's democracy is also liberally treated. Professor Andrews can be congratulated oti the clearness of his mental vision. He is a graduate both of Trinity College, Dublin, and of Johns Hopkins University, and is now professor of history in Bryn Mawr College, near Philadelphia. Though his principal interests- lie in the field of British and American institutional history, his two volumes on the "Historical De velopment of Modern .Europe" (1SH6-98) have established his tame as the leading American authority on modern European history. The next three volumes of the series are devoted to a history of the two Americas from the pen of that delightful writer and profoundly accurate historian, the late John Kiske, whose work is supplemented by. Professor John Bach McMasier. Kich Men's Children, by Geraldine Bonner. Illustrated by C M. Relyea. The Bobbs Merrlll Co.. Indianapolis. Written with that dramatic intensity and swiftly changing plot for which this famous authoress Is noted. A novel of society life in the old San Francisco that was before the earthquake, the marriage divorce question is discussed with an orig inal freedom that is diverting. Humor is shown and able character sketching. The book opens with Dominick Ryan, bank clerk with J3000 a year, young, good looking, but married to a shrew who makes his life one lingering sore. His mother, who is an unusually rich woman, fretfully wonders why her son didn't marry Miss Rose Cannon, daughter of a bonanza king.. Mrs. Berny Ryan Dom's wife was a woman whose good looks are dependent on animation and millinery, and otherwise she was a walking, shriek ing volcano -in petticoats. By chance. Dom and Rose Cannon are thrown into each other's company and they fall in love. Old Man Cannon and Mrs. Ryan offer Berny money gifts, starting at $57, 0U0 and ending at $300,000 if she, Berny. will leave California, so that her husband can apply for a divorce on the ground of desertion. But Berny spotless in her virtue and high purpose spurns the . offers, because she says she loves' her dear husband. He also assumes an injured air, but secretly determines to get more money some day by sharing the greater part of the Ryan fortune, at the death of the elder Mrs. Ryan. Rose Cannon does not believe in divorce. Here the story increases in interest. Is Berny to be killed by a trolley-car or blown up by dynamite? No, Indeed. Nothing so clumsy. Light dawns when in the 23th chapter it is announced that before Berny married Dom Ryan she al ready was the wife of Jatnes Defay Ber ford, actor.- So Berny accepts $35,000 from Mr. Cannon and conveniently disappears. There the tale ends. Dom and Rose, what of them? The authoress saith not. but there's a. hint of a cloud with a silver lining. The Romance of John Bainbridge, by Henry tleorge, Jr. $1.50. The Macmlllan Co., New York City. Not very long ago an eminent critic said that the name of Henry George otherwise spelled the single tax. And what of his clever son? His novel, start ing at Seattle, Wash., and ending at New York City, spells an arraignment against the greed of corporate wealth and is an expose of graft in politics. It voices the' conflict of the poor, generous and improvident against the rich, power ful and hard. At the same time it is not build along socialistic lines, and is conservative in tone. Its chief value lies In the fact that "The Romance of John Bainbridge' pictures class conditions In an interesting fashion, and that its char acter construction is bold arid strikingly original. Yet a few marks of the ama teur inofiction peeps out. Still, the novel is a thoughtful one. American to the core, and very readable giving promise of a latent power that will surely- one day burst into "bloom. In the first few- pages we are told that John Bainbridge had tried "farming, tim ber cutting and mining, and a clerkship in a fruit commission merchant's house in the Pacific Coast Metropolis, spending his nights of that, period reading law. He kept roving from place to place un til he came Into a little town in the State of Washington, which a great transcon tinental railroad system, by selecting as its Pacific Coast terminal, was trans forming into a rich and proud city." As a lawyer in Seattle, Bainbridge fought a railroad which Mr. George calls the Ana conda, and became, known as an orator and a fierce champion of popular rights In opposition to monopoly. Moving to New York City, where his father was the proprietor of an art window and mosaic works, he won the favorable no tice of a powerful ward politician, J. J. Cavanaugh, who pulls wires by which Bainbridge Is selected as Alderman. At this period Bainbridge asks: . Dies work make riches? If so, why Is not the "working class" the rich class? Why, In fact. Is the "working .class" the poor class? Why are those who do so lit tle work, who have so much Idle time, the rich class? Is it because the drones rob the workers? It Is the widespread robbery of I he many by the few that is producing the wild, wolfish . humanity ... . I say that politics Is rotten because we. the body of the people, leave it to the com paratively few to be huckstered by them. Public taxes are to be laid. Public -moneys are to be spent. Public privileges of var ious, kinds are to be granted. The strong and unscrupulous push for these advantages, especially for franchises, for they are the chief of these privileges. These franchises are srants to use the public highways, or rather, grants of right to particular per sons, to charge the public for using the highways. These franchise grants are enor mously valuable. The capitalized value of a bare ordinance - authorizing this or that Individual or . corporation to perform such a tollpate function will, in a large city like this, -sell for millions, frequently- for tens of millions, sometimes In the hundred mil lions. . . - ! The chief plutocrat and bribe-giver for the corrupt purchase of public franchises In the novel is Frederick Fenn. and for chapter after chapter Fenn reeks with graft, and the open purchase of votes of members of the City. Council. ' Fenn has a daughter. Miss Laura Long Fenn, who is stainless in her purity as her father is base in 'his greed. Miss Fenn supplies most of the tender sentiment, and her love passages with Bainbridge make enjoyable reading. Fenn's reforma tion is strikingly presented, and Bain bridge makes a heroic figure in his fight on non-partisan lines for the Mayoralty of the city. , The Historic Bases of Religions, Primitive, Babylonian and Jewish, by Hiram Chellls Brown.. $1.30. Herbert B. Turner & Co., Boston. . The spirit of inquiry noted here reaches a critical stage, and the conclusions reached are sure to cause loud protest from a.nerent sets of theologians. The title of the book at first glance looks dry and otherwise uninteresting, tmt the subjeet matter is so graphically handled and has sue. a pungent spirit, that the pages are eminently readable. . Mr. Brown nas courage and convic tion. For instance: The findings of the buried literature of Babylonia, Egypt and Syria, together with their monu mental remains, and also a mine of in formation found in Jewish literature it self by means of the critical methods of the present day. have not only disclosed the absolutely unreliable character of the traditional history of Israel, but also In the most unqualified manner shown us the utter want of probity and the In stincts of honesty in these sectaries Its authors." Mr. Brown thinks that the view sus tained that the Jewish nation will in full ness of time accomplish its divine mission and that the nation referred to Is the most Importunt ever appearing upon earth, is only based upon the HeDrew scriptures, and outside of these that not a scrap survives to substantiate a single calm. Emphasis is laid upon the code of Ham murabi, a -code that antedates that of Deuteronomy by more than 1700 years. Nebuchadnezzar's policy is spoken of as "humane and generous." Holes are picked in the records of the' prophets, and David's morals are criticized. The forma tion of the Babylonian plane, Mr., Brown thinks, has occupied not less than 30,000 years, and well developed states enjoying a civilized life that far outranks that of many so-called countries of the pres ent day. were in existence more than 10, 000 years ago. Borderland of. Psychical Research, by James H. Hyslop, Ph.D.. LL..D. $1.50. Herbert . B. Turner & Co.. Boston. Dr. Hyslop was formerly a professor of Ethics and Logic in Columbia Uni versity and he has since become known as a National figure in the domain of psychical research. He Is vice-president of the Society for Psychical Research, and In this regard it is timely to note that six rich New Yorkers have Just given $25,000 to continue' for two or three years research work of the character named in this volume. Dr. Hyslop is in charge of the records of mediums, investigators and delvers into psychic lore which were collected by the late Professor Hodgson. Henry W Savage Royal Hustler Continued From Page Forty-Six. ciflc Cokst and Portland within the coming year, you have a fair concep tion of the activities and cares and duties and strenuous life of this royal hustler Henry W. Savage. Where "Properties' Are Made. The play factory has put forth all of these productions that I have mentioned. All the scenic effects, the lighting effects the costume adornments and the working out of all the stag;e business, the infinite number of little aiid laree details that go to mak? up the complete staging of the piece, and the rehearsing of the music or theatrical entertainment that is in hand, have all been wrought out and perfected right there in that play factory. Perhaps the most important personage in the building Is Walter Burridge. the designer and painter of all the Savage productions. Enter his studio and you will sense the multifarious and artistic charms and rcqurements of a man In his posi tion. You, will understand what value he is to the Savage entourage. Go into the rooms where the costumes are be inur made (after they have been de signed and little, beautiful pictures painted of , them by celebrated artists like Kurridge) and you will obtain a hint of the vast job of preparing the clothes and kaleidoscopic enticements of dress that have become famous throughout the world as the Savage brand of gorgeousness In operas and spectacular amusements. ' Walk Into the region where the properties ar manufactured, and- you gain knowledge how every manner of implement and utensil and piece of stage furniture used in the various pro ductions, is made. Cunning hands and active imaginations are constantly at work turning out the marvelous things that shine in the footlights and the border lights, when the curtain has been- rung up. A huge mask, a statue, a shield, a soda water fountain. Indian clubs, turkeys, anything in this wide world from an Imitation rat to a man-of-war. What cannot be bought .must be made, and all must be in keeping with the unity and the nature of the piece that is being staged. - All is mapped out from beginning to end, and all , is finally assembled at last In the proper place in this wonderful building: when the. company is ready for the final rehearsals that take place In the Twenty-eighth-street end of the build ing1. A magazine writer of promi nence is now preparing an extensive article describing this play factory and going into the minutae of the functions of each department. Not the least interesting portion of the place to me is the paint bridge where all the drops are painted. Here the artist has his different colored lights (amber, blue and red), that he may turn on the shade he wants to try on the scene he is painting and know just what effect he will have when it is actually seen from the front of the house. Here he finishes all the Sav age scenery, and here you can see him at work. I thought .that the immense furore that "Madam Butterfly" made in Washington on its first American pre sentation the other night in Washing ton, the stir that Be Koven's "The Stu dent King" is making In Boston now, Later on, the American Institute for Sci entific Research will take up, the. appli cation of hypnotism as an agent in heal ing, and if funds are forthcoming, will open a hospital where the effects of men tal conditions upon the body may be studied. The present book of 425 pages Is In structive and illuminating., and is ' de voted mainly to normal and abnormal psychology, with philosophic reflections bearing upon the problems of both, "iet it is not intended for the scientific stu dent, but for the layman who wishes to understand the dlfficu... es that attend the conversion of the more educated world to psychical research problems. However enterprising Dr. Hyslop is In his general scope of action, he is con servative rather than radical in his con clusions. He aims at a consideration of supernormal problems! Thirteen chapters are given, the most striking of these being on memory, illusions, mind and body, and reincarnation. " Why They Married, by James Montgomery Flagg. Illustrated. 75 cents. Life Pub lishing Co.. New York City. i Fun long drawn out, . with pauses marked by delighted laughter. Mr. Flags this time presents a book of 107 pages with married people as the text, and tells his story In poetic, lines and most amus ingly drawn sketches. There's a reason foir every couple getting married, and the reasons this little book gives will not only make you laugh, but your wife if you have one. Just the kind of book to He around your library table and coax the more serious-looking books to con tagious " good-humor. Three extracts of the Flagg verse: They heard that people, ought to wed Their opposltes in life; He finds an opposition where He thought he'd found a wife. They married and Maudle looks quite worn out: It's no wonder he pestered her so. He. proposed 40.IKI0 times Every time but the last she said "No." Al Higglns thought he married well when he got Sally Brown. For very well connected was his "poll." Connected, too. with all the finest families in the town By telephone shu was a "Hello-Goll." Panama, the Isthmus and Cnnal, by C. H. Forbes-Lindsay. Illustrated. 1. The John C. Winston Co., Philadelphia. President Roosevelt's trip to Panama has again aroused interest In that part of the world, and Mr. Lindsay's temper ate and well-written book is timely. He has made himself an authority on the Panama Canal, and in the preparation of his book of 368 pages he has been af forded all the facilities at the command of the War Department and the Isthmian Canal -Commission. Mr. Forbes Lindsay , knows the ground of which he speaks, and tells of the situation as It now exists. He de scribes the final plans projected on the S5-foot level, with a dam at Gatum. and the illustrations and maps are well-selected and will be found of value. Pan ama Is told about from the September morning in the year 1513, when Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean and the story of its Spanish. French and Ameri can masters follows in detail. One Hundred and One Mexican Dishes, com piled by May 13. Southworth. Paul Elder &. Co., New York City. ' Soup, fish, meat, fowl, vegetables, meat dumplings, desserts, enchiladas, taniales and olla podrida all the recipes are here, clearly arranged and printed. A book that will stand the'test of practical work, particularly as it discusses a subject very few cooks know about in the way of rare or unusual dishes. An alphabetical index at the end is conveniently ar ranged. Muullght and Shadow, by Gabriclle E. Jack son. - Illustrated. $1.30. D. Appleton & Co.. New York City. With healthful tone and entertaining manner, this story of a girl's happy life in a boarding school is very readable. Its atmosphere is happy and congenial. The Altoghether New Cynic's Calendar of Itevlwrt Wisdom for 11)07, by Ethel Watts Mumford t-rant, Oliver Herford and Ad dison Mizner. Paul Elder & Co., New York City. ' With decorated pages in red. attractive ly bound and with words that sparkle with wit. this little book is up to tho both of which are especially gorgeous and the only grand opera that we are sure will visit the Pacific Cbast this year, and the fact that Savage's "Die Lustige Witwe." now in preparation. Is the great hit of Germany of last year, and has not been announced even in this city as yet, justified my sending you just at this time some account of the Savage enterprises that you will see in the near future. "The Student King" plays in several of the larger Eastern cities after Its present Boston run before it comes into New York. -It comes here in December, and, later on, makes the grand tour of the country. "Die Lustlge Witwe" opens here about the holidays, and afterwards makes a general tour of the states. Bulger, Raymond Hitchcock and the "College Widow" company that is on the Coast, are neir you now. There Is one thing about Mr. Savage that is especially admirable and to be acknowledged and applauded to the echo, and that Is that he tries always for the best of everything plays, op eras, productions, artists and employes. And it is true that he succeeds in get ting them In all departments.. He also requires that last and great essentlul to big success, which is loyalty and unfailing courtesy. I don't believe that he would let a manager go along with a show of his who was not a gentle man or who at least could successfully pretend that he was a gentleman. s 1 think that the whole country joins in the shout when the cry is set up: Bully for Savage. Clay Clement's New Plan. Ciay Clement, who is well known everywhere for . his success in "The New Dominion," has launched his new play, "Sam Houston," at the Garden Theater here. He has lots of friends and admirers of his industry and artis tic perceptions. But his new play lacks coherence and vital interest. It has no darmatie situations at all. Al though in the hearing of the elaborate piece you see ample evidence of ex treme care and straining after good effects, although you hear occasional good lines, although you perceive that Mr. Clement has studied Houston from beginning to end, although there Is some suggestion of atmosphere here and there throughout the tiresome pro duction, and although you know from the evidence of your eyes that the properties and the costumes and the staging generally are correct and have taken a large amount of trouble and money in the gathering, you, are, nev ertheless, convinced against your wish that the play is an utter failure be cause it has no strength, no intense in terest, and Clement himself, although he is a good comedian, is not convinc ing or even engaging continuously in the character of Houston. The play is scheduled at the Garden Theater, where it opened, for two weeks or so longer, and. after this New York date, it will be possible to take it with moderate prosperity over the land of the theat rically bamboozled, perhaps, but that loosely-fastened string of tame epi sodes will not last as a play, and the caliber of the principal role does not fit the temperament or professional ca pacity of the distinguished actor, Clay Clement- . worth of Us amusing predecessors. Every week has a page and a f,unny motto. Here are little remarks the book makes: "A cat may look at a king but it takes four aces to see 'em. . Necessity knows any mother-in-law. Born with a silver spoon in the mouth and somebody hopes you choke. What's In a name without 75 per cent advertising? J. M. Q. NEW BOOKS RECEIVED. Missionary Addresses, by Bishop Charles H. Fowler, $1 ; Three Boys and a Otrl. by Anne Helena Woodruff, illustrated, $1.-5 (Jennings-Graham). The Wishbone Boat, by Alice C. D. "Riley, 73 cents, illustrated tH. M. Caldwell Co.). The Soul of an Artist, translated from the Italian of Neera, by E. U. Murison (Paul . ElAer & Co.). In Clive's Command; -a Story of the Fipht - for India, by Herbert Strang (Bobbs-Mer-rill). Confessions of a Detective, by Alfred Henry Lewis, illustrated, $1.50 tBarnes). IX LIBRARY AND W ORKSHOP Will Payne's new novel, "When Love Speaks," comes at an opportune time. Deal ing as it does with the problems of political corruption and reform, it was fittingly pub lished the" day after tne recent New York election. There is much In the book which might furnish food for reflection to some of the disappointed politicians. There will be published shortly "The Way 'to Happiness," by Rev.. Thomas R. Slicer, the well-known w York clerpymf n. Mr. Slicer has written this work from the sug gestive viewpoint that "the conduct of life must be included among the highest of the arts; there Is a point at which the two paths of desire and obligation meet, and be yond that point lies the way to happiness." - - Clifton Johnson, who has rambled over many parts of the country with his camera, gives fascinating glimpses of the life of the Middle West In his new book, "Highways and byways of the Mississippi Valley." Mr. Johnson seems to have spent more time in the byways than In the highways. He has an unquenchable liking for ofld. and out-of- the-way scenes and characters, and a facul ty that amounts almost to genius for. dis covering them. The new book, like lis predecessors. Is Illustrated with & number of the author' photographs. - Some months ago the Bookman,, the famous English paper edited by Dr. Robert son Nicoll, offered a prize for the best story for young girls. Dr. Nicoll, who has prob ably "discovered" more successful authors than any otber living man, awarded the prlxe to a simple, unpretentious story by a writer hitherto totally unknown. - The story was printed as a serial in Dr. KfcoH's paper, and the verdict of its readers has con firmed his belief that he has added a new name to his- list of "discoveries." The new story, which Is called "The Story Book Girls" and is by .Christina Gowans Whytc, is to be issued in book form In a week. Probably no other actor has ever had so large an acquaintance and so many warm admirers among1 newspaper men as the. late Sir Henry Irving. The fact has been strik ingly brought out in the reviews of Bram Stoker's recently' published "Reminis cences" of the actor. Quite apart from the estimaie of the value of Mr. Stoker's work, there has been in almost all of the reviews a strong undercurrent of personal regard for Irving the man. It Is doubtful if any other important biographical work has ever been reviewed by so many personal friends and ar-ijuaintances of the subject of the work. - Soon will be republished under the title. "The Warrior Spirit in the Republic of God" a book by Anna R. Brown Lindsay, which was first published in l!o:s, under the title. "The Warriors." This book, which Is a strong call to a progressive religious policy for the times, has had a curious history. It was projected and outlined before the Spanish-American War in the belief that we were at the dawn of a new religious era. The author has had a remarkable experi ence .of seeing a number of her most ad vanced thoughts fulfilled nefore this now edition, which in Mrs. Lindsay's words, will appear "at a time of deep refiglous inquiry .and spiritual unrest." The first sentence In Dr. Abbott's intro duction to his "The Rambles of an Idler." might be employed as the text around which he has written his charming essays: "Speak the word idleness as harshly as you may, t.nd. it falls softly on the ear. Whisper work in your most dulcet tones and still it is harsh." "The Rambles of an Idler" is a book of essays of a kind which are always .welcome, because they exhibit a fine literary gift, coupled with habits of mind which are uplifting and fine. It needs a personal per usal of the book in hand to obtain an idea of its excel! nee. The seven papers on "In terpretations," "Ptiipatettc Meditations." "Candor." "The Excellence of Misfortune," "Under the Oaks and Elsewhere," etc.. might have been written by as fine a hand as ;.hat of Robert Louis Stevenson. Professor William " Benjamin Smith, of Tulane University, that versatile genius w'ho has written books on such widely differing topics as the negro problem and "Der Vorchristllche Jesus," has Just1 sailed for Europe, - where he will spend a year. I'p to the present time he has occupied t!ie chair of mathematics at Tulane, but on his return he is to teach phllosopuy. He is well equipped to teach theology, anthro pology, and man; other "ologles." and his many-sidedness is Illustrated by the fact that the Introduction and many of the notes to the above-mentioned book were written in German by Professor Smith. The book was brought out in Germany, having been recommended to Its publisher by Professor Otto Pficiderer, of the Berlin University. Professor Smith has just written a critical study of Pfieldercr's "Christian Origins." The question recently raised as to th cause of the present popular demand for "mission'' furniture has been very satisfac torily answered. When the old Spanish mis sions in Southern California were abandoned most of the furniture was left behind, be ing too cumbersome and heavy for easy re moval. Within the last few years many of these old mission buildings have been reno vated and turned into comfortable homes, use being made of the original furniture in many cases. The utility of this old-time furniture and its decorative effect in the remodeled rooms appealed, not only to the new ownerj of the missions, but to their friends as well, and the style of the quaint benches, tables and chairs once used by the "padres" was quickly copK-d and soon be came generally popular. Apropos of these missions, it occurs to one to mention a re cent novel ("Captain Courtesy, a Story of Old California," hy Edward Chi Ids Carpen ter) that deals in a delightful way with old mission days. , -Robert Hlchens, the English author, whos new novel, "The Call of the Blood," is just published, was born in Speldhurt, Kent, England, and educated, at Clifton College. After leaving college he studied music for some years at the Iloyal College of Music, but even at that time the struggle had be gun between the musician and the wrlten which was finally to result In the triumph of the latter. He began early to write mu sical lyrics and stories, and later, after a course at the Ixmdon School of Journalism, became a member of the staff of the London World. "His Green Coronation," published anonymously, and attributed to Oscar Wilde, created a' sensation. It was followed by several other novels, among them "Flames," "The Slave." and "The Lady With the Fan." "The Garden of Allah." published last year, had a tremendous vogue. He has also col laborated In several successful plays. Per sonally, Mr. Hichens is an exceedingly agreeable man to meet, a traveled man of the world, liberal-minded, sympathetic, companionable, and a brilliant conversa tionalist. ' Visitors to Winnipeg. Manitoba, who in quire th way to St. Stephen's will find a splendid new building, which was completed and dedicated during the past summer. In the pulpit, on. most Sundays of the year, they will see a man of 4:- Dr. Charles W. Gordon, tall, slender, and well set-up. with a pale and intellectual face. His voice, as he speaks, is soft and clear. He reads with expression, and his prayers are rever ent and intimate. He Is not what is usually called a popular preacher. His physique and temperament are not those of the orator. But for one who comes to church to receive instruction, counsel and help for the daily life, Mr. Gordon has a message. He thinks clearly, and, as might be expect ed, expresses himself in chaste and elegant language. He has more than a touch of his father's Imagination, and in a descriptive passage he makes the scene very real to bis hearers. He has great personal charm, be ing modest and approachable, and above all possessing the faculty of sympathetically in teresting himself in the. interests of other people, says the Book Monthly. Remember ing the large number of young people, far from home, who live in the hotels and boarding houses of a city like Winnipeg, the new St. Stephen's has been completely fitted up with parlors and recreation rooms, where those without homes may spend evenings amid pure and helpful surroundings. Mr. Gordon's attractiveness to young men Is in creased by the fact that he is unaffectedly Interested in sport and outdoor life. As we have said, he was a football player at the university, and it is on record that in his Manitoba mission field he won his way Into the confidence of the youthful members of his flock by his prowess as a baseball pitch er. His favorite holiday Is spent in a canoe, far from the habitation of men, threading by day the windings of a Canadi an waterway, and lying by night upon the fragrant fir, -close to the ample bosom of Mother Earth. As . Ralph- Connor, Dr. Gordon has won fame as a novelist, espe cially in "The Sky Pilot." - , , It appears that Hall Caine has an ambi tious son bearing .hi'3 father's name, and that he is to be associated In the publish ing business with the Harmsworth interests. One of his earliest ventures will be a six penny edition of his father's novel, "The Eternal City." Miss Frances Charles, the author of a second tale of Arizona life. "Pardner of Blossom Range," first drew attention to herself a. year or two ago through "In the Country God Forgot." a romantic novel with a decidedly strtklne and appealing title. Miss Charles is a Californian by birth. She has always lived on or near the Pacific coast, and the familiarity with Arizona life displayed in her novels is the result of experience and tirst-hand knowl edge. ,-. The title page of. the romantic "Story and Song of Black Roderick" bears the name of Dora Sigerson. In private life she is Mrs. Clement K. Shorter, the wife of Lie well-known London Journalist and man of letters, and the romance Just issued is by no means her first literary work. She has written quite extensively during the- past decade upon many themes in verse, fiction and art. Her fatner is George Sigerson, the distinguished Dublin physician. J. George Frederick, the author of "Breezy." which is doing the "The Message to Garcia" circle among buslne.es men who are distributing it among their employes as a stimulus to enterprise, is a young Pennsylvanian. . He ha been writing for the magazines since IS. His newspaper and business training enabled him to write this crisp little story, so full of inspiration to the average young grocer. Mr. Frederick is now editing a well-known advertising magazine published in Chicago. ' The rfent announcement of the engage ment of Princess Emllie of Battenberg to a young Chicago business man has created quite a stir. It is no new "thing for titled foreigners to marry our American girls, but this is perhaps the first Instance of a Princess of the blood royal being willing to drop her tine and become plain Mrs. . The story told of the first meeting of the Princess and her lover is .quite romantic. The Princess, it seems.'was out riding when her horse became frightened and, rearing, threw her to th ground. She was not seriously hurt, but very much shaken up. and her companions were just about to send to the -a-tle for a carriage when the Chl cagoan appeared, took In the situation at once and offered to convey her home in his automobile. This incident reminds one strongly of the meeting between the Princess of Krovitch and her lover, as described In "Trusla." the new novel by Davis Brinton. but one cannot suspect that author of "stealing" the idea, as his book was ready for press before the incident of the Princess EmlUe was known. , Perhaps the most alluring feature of Pro fessor Albert S. Cook's little volume on "The Higher Study of English" may be found in the descriptive running titles that appear at and vary with the top of every right-hand page. They are little guideposts that point the way through a series of instructive es says dealing with "The Province of Eng lish Philology." "The Teaching of English." "The Relation of Words to Literature," and "Aims in the Graduate Study of English." As the reader turns Professor Cook's pages, he will find himself wandering through a delectable land of fact and imagination. At on moment he is asked "What Is the philologist?" at thf next he Is told that "philologists sometimes write well" and In formed "way some philologist are dull." while again and again he has explained to him "the philologist a lover." "the choice of a word." "divination due to hard work." "hbw the Greeks studied Homer" and "the possibilities of verbal, study." In his essay on "The Province of English Philology." Professor Cook Is, for instance, distinctly and delightfully original. There is, in fact, nothing of the dry-as-dust in anything he writes.. He tells us that the conventional misconception of the philologist's field comes from a lack of knowledge of the derivation of the word from the Greek. "The philolo gist was oriKlnally one who loved tne tales of history or old romance, and then one who was fond of all sorts of learning which naturally grew out of this love for dwelling on the records of the past." Some of the freaks of translation enumer ated In the current number of Tne Book man are old, but several of them are suffi ciently new to make Its reprinting worth the while. A month or two ago people were astonished to learn the very startling title under which French publishers had present ed Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle." A re Multimillionaires in Public Life Continued from Paste Kort y-Fonr. sively abroad, mainly at ParisWnd Ber linwas of great help in getting a proper charter through and in securing a t'nited States land grant for the institution. His selection as Cornell's first president was the natural thing under the circum stances, and he remained its president until 1S85, six years after his unusual abil ity had been rewarded by appointment as Minister to Germany. White remained Minister to Germany only two years when first appointed In 1!TS. but in 1SA2 he was sent to Russia, and later again to Ger many, where he served with distinction. He has filled several other appointive posts and all of them in a way that more than justified his appointment. Mr. White's introduction to diplomatic life came while he was still a yolng man in the fifties, when he was secretary of le gation at St. Petersburg for six months. Two Rich Army Veterans. Beside Mr. Tower, Philadelphia has fur nished another man of inherited wealth to the diplomatic service In the person of Lloyd C. Griscom, at present Ambassa dor to Brazil, and son of Clement A. Griscom, the shipowner. Though he Is now only 34, Ambassador Griscom has al ready served his Government in five dif ferent countries. He began as private sec retary to tho late Thomas K. Bayard, In lfi!)3, when the latter was Minister and Ambassador to Kngland. was then secre tary of legation at Constantinople, next Minister to Persia, and then Minister to Japan. He was made Ambassador to Brazil this year. Mr. Griscom has a rather enviable rec ord. In 1SS9, while in Constantinople, he was for some time acting Charge d' Af faires and had a good deal to di with the securing of reparation from Turkey for the damage done to the schools estab lished there by American missionaries. He was sent to Persia In 1901, just after his marriage to Miss Klizabeth Duer Branson daughter of the late Frederick Bronson a New York society girl and relative of the Miss Duer who married Clarence H. Mackay. The wedding journey of the young diplo mat and his bride was very much out of the ordinary, being nothing less than a thousand-mile ride over the great historic commercial route from Teheran, the Per sian capital, to Bagdad. On that memor able trip they met all sorts and conditions of Orientals and saw the life of the Bast as it is given to only a few to see it. The journey was a sort of triumphal progress. At Ispahan the Governor gave them a great reception, and at many places they were the recipients of special honors. Griscom was stationed at Tokio through, out the Russo-Japanese War. His services to the United States Government during that contest were of much value, and in 1S05 there was talk of recalling him to fill an important post in the State De partment at Washington. This may have been the intention at one time, but he was sent to Brazil instead. He is a versatile chap, this rich young Phlladelphian. A graduate of Pennsyl vania, he visited South America with Richard Harding Davis and was the orig inal of one of the characters in his "Three Gringoes in Venezuela": he studied law soon after leaving college, and served some time in the New York District At cent issue of T. P.'s Weekly calls attention to a number of similar humors of transla tion. For Instance, Victor Hugo always translated the Firth of Forth as "the First of the Fourth," and swore that he was right, too; while Disraeli noted with amuse ment the French rendering of the adjective "woebegone" as. "Doulcur va-t'-en." An early translator of Scott's "Bride of Lam mermoor" had it as "La Bride de Lammer moor," the second word meaning "bridle" ; and the same man rendered "Welsh rabbit" by "Lapin du Pays de Galles." The case of "La Dernlere Chemlsa de TAmour1 for "Love's last Shift" is classic, and when the farce "Hit or Miss" was done into Krench it almost was billed as "Frappe ou Made moiselle." That delightful pie-e, in wnieh Toole was at his funniest, "Walker, Lon don," was referred to in a French news paper as "Londres qui se Promene;" the best that the translator could io for the "Sticklt Ministi-r" was "Le Mlnistre Assassine." Surprising, but none the less true, is the version of that line of Gold smith's "Deserted Village" "As ocean sweeps the labored mole away," which ap peared as "Comme la mer detruit les travaux da la taupe," the last word signify ing the small, burrowing creature we all knoi. Some time ago a Krench writer ad dressed, or wrote of. the Bishop of Sodor and Man as "Monseigneur 1'Eveque de Syphon d Horn me." "Rosemary in Search of a Father." by C. N. and A. N. . Williamson, is announced. This book i described as "A Christmas love story. thf scene of which is laid at Monte Carlo." so that the public may ex pect a variation on the conventional Christ mas motive as It has appeared in fiction from the time of Dickens' "Christmas Carol." Rosemary Is a little girl whose mother, the young widow of an English nobleman, is living in poverty at Monte Carlo. She is told by her nurse that on Christmas eve tne fairies give to people what they most desire. Rosemary is par ticularly anxious to have what she has never really known, a father. How this "fairy father" of her dreams does actually come to her and to her mother, and how they all three celebrate their beautiful green Christmas of the Riviera by making others happy. Is worked out in the well known style of these highly popular writ ers. William Hatherel. the well-known Eng lish illustrator, has made the six pictures which are reproduced In photogravure, and Thomas Maitland Cleland. long chief draughtsman and designer for the Merry mount Press, Is responsible for cover, page decorations, initials, end-papers, etc. Stanley Weyman's new romantic love story. "ChtppiiiKe Borough. will soon be issued. The scene of this book Is laid In England In is:t2 at the time of the Reform Bill, but the interest of the story centers in its love element and in the recovery by the hetn of a large fortune which he has lost through devotion to bis political opinions. The chief historical personage of the Uory Is the great Liberal leader. Iid Brougham, or "Bruffam," as his contem poraries loved to call him. a figure, at once grotesque and gigantic and full of pictur esque possibilities for a writer like Mr. Weyman who knows so well how to grasp the spirit of a period and the characters of Its men and women. Ivan Strannik. whose book. The Shadow of the House." has Just been published, was the first to introduce Gorky to readers out side of Russia. Her first book was a trans lation into French of a volume of Gorky's stories, under the title of "The Vagabonds." She has also written one of the most searching and intelligent appreciations of Gorkv that have yet appeared, in hr vol ume on "Contemporary Russian Thought." Boss Tweed's Unvarnished Tale. , Vancouver (B. C.) World. The story of Boss Tweed of New Xork occurs to us here. Tweed ruled that great American city 30 years ago and hy a system of fraudulent entries and bogus transactions stole $100,000,000. He whs a poor mechanic and became the head of Tammany Hall. Kvery contractor and office " holder was forced to pay him largess. As an evidence of his corrupt methods It may be mentioned that the Hall of Records, a building which 'should have been erected for $2,000,000 cost $13, 000.000 and the furnishing $'.20,000,000. As high as $10 a yard was paid for carpets that would have been high at $1.73. Other things cost in proportion, easy chairs $20 and so on. Several hundred men aided Tweed In his villainies, nearly all of whom fled when the books were copied and handed to Luis Jennings, the Kng lish editor of the New York Times, wbo made the most of them. When taxed with his crimes by a citizens committee, Tweed, with chnraeteristic impudence asked, "Well, what are you going to do about It?" He was finally arrested, lib erated on bonds, -lied to Vigo, Spain, in a chartered steamer. rJhe Spanish authorities seized this matchless rogue and handed him over to the authorities for trial. He was sentenced to a term and died in prison. Tt is related that the Immediate cause of Tweed's undoing was the wedding of a daughter which 2000 invited guests attended and the father's presents! were valued at $500,000. torney's office; he was for a while a war correspondent In Colombia, and was 'a staff captain in the United States volun teer Army during the Spanish War. Ho comes pretty near being an all-around American. Colonel Henry A. Du Pont's election to the United States Senate at 70 from the long Addicks-ridden little State of Dela ware put a man to the front who was a veteran at arms Jietore young Griscom was born. Du Pont was educated at the University of Pennslyvanla and West Point. His class at the latter institution was one of the two which, as an emer gency measure, were graduated in iw;i. and he was at the head of the first one. By reason of his high place in the class he had the choice of services, and, of course, might have gone into the engi neers and avoided risking his life at the front. That wasn't his way. however: a war was on and he wanted to clo his share of the fighting. He also wanted to begin at niu, and so refused to take his regular three months' graduation leave, joining his battery as soon as he could- The name of the commander of the bat tery has not been handed down, but ho was a man of years who had become fos silized during the long peace after the Mexican War. Du Pont wanted to com mand a light battery himself, and some how he managed to get one in the early Fall of 1S61. ' So far as the half-dozen l-'-pound guns went. Du Pont's battery was as line an outfit as could be found in all McClel laiv's Army, to which it was attached, but the horses were so bad that the Lieuten ant gasped when he saw them. Within a very few days after he had first cast his eyes on the sorry beasts. Simon Cameron, of Pennsylvania. Secretary of War, re ceived a call from a venerable veteran of the War of 1812. and a slender stripling in the Army In blue. "Cameron," said the older man, "I have a favor to ask you. Let my son. Lieu tenant Du Pont, add from $20 to. Jf0 out of his own pocket to the price of each of his battery horses, and make some kind of a show." The request was granted, and when Du Pont's battery trotted by General McClel lan. In review, two months- later, the General pronounced It the best horsed, best equipped battery he had ever seen. Du Pont remained in service throughout the war and came out a Lieutenant-Colonel. He was offo'red the rank of Brigadier-General, at the same time Merritt and Custer were advanced, but he de clined the honor, on the ground that he'd rather stick to his Captaincy for a while and take his promotion more gradually. Henry A. Du Pont's name was otten spoken of In connection with the Senate all through the Addicks years in Dela ware, and he claimed election in 1815. but his claim was not allowed by the Senate. Although the number of rich men by inheritance in public life is relatively so small, the careers of those here named show preity conclusively that nothing save their own indifference or inability to convince- the people of their sineerify stands in the way of their taking a far more active part than they do in Gov ernmental affairs. (Copyright, lrJA, by Dexter Marshall.)